NCAA Playoff Committee Rankings 2014 (Unranked)

[Blaise]

Think we need to take a step back and breathe...

A 2 loss team won't be ranked ahead of ND.. and until the playoff committee does that, its foolish to worry. Our worries need to be with Oregon... If we get Stanford to beat them, we look better, MSU loss looks worse, and we will hop them

 

[GoIrish41]

I've been a fan of ND for more than 40 years, and I cannot remember many seasons when the Irish did not have among the toughest schedules. This year, when teams that have traditionally been high quality teams -- like Michigan and more recently Stanford -- completely shit the bed. Even USC looks bad, and teams that have been on the rise like Louisville don't seem like real quality wins, so there isn't much relief in the rest of our schedule. Add to this that of all years for us not to play MSU it is this one. So after a lifetime of rooting for ND, and always being a little proud that they never took the easy route in scheduling -- this is a year that the schedule looks weak and this is the year that a committee of a dozen people decide that strength of schedule is the brass ring to grab on the way to the first-ever playoff. It is highly disappointing and does not seem all that fair. We played tough schedules all along, even when it was not the wisest path to glory. The stars do not appear to be aligning for this year's young Irish team. I guess my biggest question in all of this is how a team could control how others on their schedule perform in a given year. With the perception of the mighty SEC, isn't the stage set for them always remaining at the top of the heap? And, why could we not know at the beginning of the season what this committee was going to use as their criteria -- maybe we don't take our foot off the gas in games if we know that "quality wins" means TCU blowouts against the likes of Western Ky.

 

[Blaise]

You're assuming a two-loss SEC team won't get in by suggesting all of these tough games...It's been mentioned that there's a 33% chance the SEC champion has two losses. Yes, those teams will beat up on each other. Yes, there will most likely be teams with two losses or more. But just because a team gets that second loss, it doesn't automatically eliminate them. Look no further than Ole Miss recent loss at LSU. The committee clearly didn't care that they literally just lost. They still put them in the Top 4. If Alabama loses to LSU but beats Auburn and Miss St, you think the committee will drop them from contention? Not a chance.

That is flawed logic... Ole Miss dropped below 0 loss teams.. They stayed ahead of 1 loss team cause they beat Bama.

I like this scenario better... In BCS format if You lose week 2 you have a chance, but lose week 9 and you drop too far to make up ground... Now it just put Ole Miss in with rest of 1 loss teams and CPC decided they had best resume besides Auburn. If Bama loses again they will be put with the two loss teams

 

[Grahambo]

It really sucks that Wisconsin couldn't finish off LSU when they were up 3 scores.

Every big win/loss seems to center around LSU.

LSU sucks this year too.

 

[koonja]

Just looking at the names we will root for this weekend, I think on Sunday it will look much better. Teams we root for this week:

Auburn, Stanford, Arkansas, LSU, Florida, WVU, Louisville.

At least 2, probably 3, possible (but doubtful) 4 of these teams will end up winning, which helps us.

 

[Corry]

A 2 loss SEC champ would obviously be in, but a 2 loss non-SEC champion-SEC team would not be in over a 1 loss ND team.

I hear all of this concern, but no one's willing to put their one vbuck on the line .

A billion to one odds. I'll put 10 vbucks on the line.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Just looking at the names we will root for this weekend, I think on Sunday it will look much better. Teams we root for this week:

Auburn, Stanford, Arkansas, LSU, Florida, WVU, Louisville.

At least 2, probably 3, possible (but doubtful) 4 of these teams will end up winning, which helps us.

Da fuq? Who does LSU play this weekend? grin:

 

[koonja]

Da fuq? Who does LSU play this weekend? grin:

Lol, good catch. FYI - in case anyone else was wondering, Bama and LSU are both off this week and play each other next.

 

[aubeirish]

We're #1 in the ESPN grad ranking. Does that count?

 

[Irish#1]

A 2 loss SEC champ would obviously be in, but a 2 loss non-SEC champion-SEC team would not be in over a 1 loss ND team.

I hear all of this concern, but no one's willing to put their one vbuck on the line .

Saving mine for my retirement!

 

[RDU Irish]

Ole Miss is BS. They should be #10 in front of Georgia.

I would also drop Georgia behind a quite a few more one loss teams.

I'm not overly concerned, other than FSU I don't think anyone in the top 10 has any better than a 50% chance of running the table, including ND.

 

[irishog77]

I think a scheduling "intent" factor needs to be taken into account. The Pac-12 and Big XII play 9 conference games and many schedule a quality opponent in their remaining 3. ND essentially did the same thing-- 10 Power 5 teams and Navy and Rice. ND's overall schedule is in, actuality, much weaker than everybody (fans, writers, coaches etc) thought it would be. But sh!t happens. How are teams that schedule opponents like michigan and Texas supposed to overcome their present crappiness? And why are wins over opponents such as Purdue or Rice considered as similar wins over a directional Missouri school or some I-AA school?

This has always been my biggest issue with the polls and now this pile of donkey sh!t of a new poll.

 

[Grahambo]

The SEC model is to start the season over hyped and ranked high enough. Then schedule extremely soft OOC games. Then beat each other up so that your rankings don't really change a whole lot and the games are talked about as some defensive juggernaut.

Except it's really a shitty performance by two offenses, such as Ole Miss/LSU or a shitty defensive performance such as South Carolina (who sucks) and Auburn who's overrated.

 

[NorthDakota]

Hope the boys make an example out of Navy, Az State, Louisville, and USC.

 

[irishog77]

Hope the boys make an example out of Navy, Az State, Louisville, and USC.

My reaction to the initial poll is that blowing teams out won't matter much to the committee.

 

[Grahambo]

My reaction to the initial poll is that blowing teams out won't matter much to the committee.

True but you gotta try to leave an impression somehow. That's really the only thing ND can control. Does TCU get ranked as high because of their scoring the last two weeks?

 

[Ndaccountant]

considering this is the first ranking they have provided, I am reserving judgment until I see how they move teams up and down each week. That will tell me more in the end on whether I need to be worried or not.

 

[IRISH in MT]

Bring back the BCS!!! This is the most flawed voting system I have seen yet. That entire Top 10 is laughable. Obviously there is bias against ND from the committee. I will admit that we got BCS Bowl bids in years we didn't deserve but it appears they are going for payback in year 1 of the playoff.

 

[irish4ever]

My reaction to the initial poll is that blowing teams out won't matter much to the committee.

Navy and Northwestern, probably not, but against Louisville, ASU and U$C I feel it would have somewhat of a positive impact for moving up in the rankings.

 

[irishog77]

True but you gotta try to leave an impression somehow. That's really the only thing ND can control. Does TCU get ranked as high because of their scoring the last two weeks?

True. Blowing teams out should help more than winning by 3 every week. But ND's and michigan state's common opponents didn't seem to matter.

My fear is that like other human rankings, it will be tough to jump teams up or move them down as the season progresses simply due to justification and rationalization of previous rankings.

My assumption is that beating a&m is still seen as somewhat of a quality win for any team that has beaten them. Same goes for south carolina. Why? Because at one time they were ranked high.

 

[HoosierMP33]

The only two I have a problem with are Ole Miss at 4 and MSU at 8. Win out and we're fine. For anyone saying an 11-1 ND team won't make it, my offer of 1 billion vbucks to your 1 is on the table.

Ole Miss
vs. Auburn
@ Arkansas
vs. MSU

Auburn
@Ole Miss
vs. Texas AM
vs. Georgia
@Bama

Oregon
vs. Stanford
@Utah
@ Oregon St.

Mississippi St.
vs. Arkansas
@Bama
@ Ole Miss

Alabama
@LSU
vs. Mississippi St.
vs. Auburn

Georgia
vs. Florida
vs. Auburn

TCU
@WVU
vs. KSU
A Texas

KSU
@TCU
@WVU
@Baylor

MSU
@OSU

Not worried.

100% RIGHT....

I said this last night....Look....no need to panic or get crappy with the ranking....

Ole Miss will lose to Auburn *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Miss St will lose to Ole Miss AND 'Bama *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

'Bama will lose to Auburn *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Auburn will lose to Georgia *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Georgia will lose SEC title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the SEC puzzle.

Nebraska will lose at Wisconsin *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Mich St./OSU will leave one team eliminated.

Mich St./OSU will lose in title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the B1G problem.

Oregon loses to Stanford OR in PAC-12 title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

PAC-12 problem solved.

K-State will lose to TCU *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

TCU will lose to West Virginia *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Baylor will lose to K-State *poof*they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the Big 12 problem.

FSU wins out.

ACC solved.

FSU and ND left standing out among a myriad of 2 loss teams....

Granted, not all of this can/will/is going to happen and saying all of this is going to happen is very unrealistic....but so is acting like we're out of the playoff's or that it's impossible for us to get in....This is the best case scenario for ND...some of this that I laid out will happen tho....question is....will enough of it happen for us to make the playoffs? That is the real question...

As someone else pointed out....Auburn was #11 at this time last year and they made it in to #2....we can go from #10 to #3 or #4 in a hurry.....sit back...and R-E-L-A-X.... Coach BK and Uncle Rico got this....just take care of business on the field and the rest will sort itself out....There is no other program that draws eyeballs, travels as well, and makes $$$$ like ND does.....win...and we'll get in.....

 

[koonja]

100% RIGHT....

I said this last night....Look....no need to panic or get crappy with the ranking....

Ole Miss will lose to Auburn *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Miss St will lose to Ole Miss AND 'Bama *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

'Bama will lose to Auburn *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Auburn will lose to Georgia *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Georgia will lose SEC title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the SEC puzzle.

Nebraska will lose at Wisconsin *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Mich St./OSU will leave one team eliminated.

Mich St./OSU will lose in title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the B1G problem.

Oregon loses to Stanford OR in PAC-12 title game *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

PAC-12 problem solved.

K-State will lose to TCU *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

TCU will lose to West Virginia *poof* they're gone. (2nd loss)

Baylor will lose to K-State *poof*they're gone. (2nd loss)

That solves the Big 12 problem.

FSU wins out.

ACC solved.

FSU and ND left standing out among a myriad of 2 loss teams....

Granted, not all of this can/will/is going to happen and saying all of this is going to happen is very unrealistic....but so is acting like we're out of the playoff's or that it's impossible for us to get in....This is the best case scenario for ND...some of this that I laid out will happen tho....question is....will enough of it happen for us to make the playoffs? That is the real question...

As someone else pointed out....Auburn was #11 at this time last year and they made it in to #2....we can go from #10 to #3 or #4 in a hurry.....sit back...and R-E-L-A-X.... Coach BK and Uncle Rico got this....just take care of business on the field and the rest will sort itself out....There is no other program that draws eyeballs, travels as well, and makes $$$$ like ND does.....win...and we'll get in.....

Reps for including gangster rap in your reasoning.

 

[IRISH in MT]

LOVE the optimism and that is exactly what has to happen!

I have said for the past 2 weeks that the SEC Champ may have 2 lossses. However, Georgia over Auburn is a wish but unlikely to happen. I am worried that Ole Miss won't beat Miss St and the Bulldogs only have 1 loss.

We REALLY need Wisconsin to beat Nebraska. I doubt Mich St. or Ohio St loses the Big 10 Chipper. This is a realistic issue too.

C'mon Stanford Defense!!! Could Arizona St keep up with Oregon in the PAC 12 Chipper if Taylor Kelly can't play?

Pulling hard for WVU over TCU this weekend. I am thinking Baylor will beat K-State so that is our third problem.

I am worried.

 

[koonja]

LOVE the optimism and that is exactly what has to happen!

I have said for the past 2 weeks that the SEC Champ may have 2 lossses. However, Georgia over Auburn is a wish but unlikely to happen. I am worried that Ole Miss won't beat Miss St and the Bulldogs only have 1 loss.

We REALLY need Wisconsin to beat Nebraska. I doubt Mich St. or Ohio St loses the Big 10 Chipper. This is a realistic issue too.

C'mon Stanford Defense!!! Could Arizona St keep up with Oregon in the PAC 12 Chipper if Taylor Kelly can't play?

Pulling hard for WVU over TCU this weekend. I am thinking Baylor will beat K-State so that is our third problem.

I am worried.

He's back from injury and started last week. Unless he got hurt again and I missed it?

 

[IRISH in MT]

He's back from injury and started last week. Unless he got hurt again and I missed it?

I thought I saw him gimping off again towards the end of the game???

 

[kmoose]

The one big glaring issue I have with the rankings is that Michigan State is ranked in front of ND.

Granted, Michigan State's best win (Nebraska) is better than ND's (Stanford). But look at the rest of Michigan State's wins:

Jacksonville State
Eastern Michigan
Wyoming
Purdue
Indiana
Michigan

That's a pathetic schedule, but they got up for the big game against Nebraska, and suddenly they are Top 10?

 

[Ndaccountant]

I thought I saw him gimping off again towards the end of the game???

I believe he got a concussion, but I am not certain.

 

[IndyIrishFan1]

ESPN on FSU: "Wins are wins"

ESPN on ND: "Wins are too sloppy"

You've got to be fucking kidding me with this shit.

I heard the exact same thing. Once sentence Herby awards FSU for "just getting wins" and then the next sentence he says "getting wins for ND isn't enough."

I had a little optimism going into this system at the beginning of the year, but after last night I'm worried. I know it is early in the year and a lot of those top teams need to play each other still, but seeing Ole Miss still in the top 4 after losing last week to a not great LSU team leaves me with some bubbleguts.

If the SEC West beats up on each other with some close games between them, I can honestly see this committee "awarding" 2 loss SEC team(s) above any other 1 loss team.

Someone on twitter made a good point last night. If ND wins at FSU they are in the top 2, possibly 1. So, is that 1 play/bad call worth 10 spots in the poll?

Beat Navy.

 

[Blaise]

According to Long on the Dan Patrick show... Implied that the close loss to FSU was the only reason they were rated as high as they were opposed to where OSU and Nebraska is

 

[GATTACA!]

According to Long on the Dan Patrick show... Implied that the close loss to FSU was the only reason they were rated as high as they were opposed to where OSU and Nebraska is

What the fuck has michigan state done to deserve their spot?? Lose by more to a worse team and beat two common opponents by less?